UFC World Titles Up For Grabs In 2025
Alexandre Pantoja turned the eleventh champion to efficiently defend his UFC world title in 2024 when he submitted Kai Asakura in the principle occasion at UFC 310 earlier this month.
There have been nineteen UFC world title fights in whole all year long and 7 fighters obtained their fingers on a championship belt for the very first time. With the 12 months now drawing to an in depth, let’s look forward on the three world title fights which are already set in stone for 2025.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland for UFC World Title at Middleweight
Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) has had an distinctive 12 months. The South African dethroned Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) on the prime of the UFC middleweight division at UFC 297 again in January, in what was a contentious cut up resolution victory.
“Stillknocks” resisted Strickland’s requires a right away rematch, and as an alternative confronted former long-time champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August. Whereas Adesanya started brightly in the principle occasion in Perth, Western Australia, Du Plessis capitalized when Adesanya slowed later within the battle to grab victory by the use of a rear bare choke.
Many followers had anticipated Khamzat Chimaev to be subsequent in line to problem for the 185 lb belt given the brutal nature of his submission win over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi in October, however a rematch between Du Plessis and Strickland has been scheduled to headline UFC 312 on February eighth, 2025.
Strickland returned to the win column at UFC 302 in June when he edged out Paulo Costa by the use of cut up resolution, however his efficiency didn’t impress the present champion. ““Nothing’s modified, he regarded boring like each different battle, strolling ahead jabbing and teeping – it wasn’t an thrilling battle,” mentioned Du Plessis not too long ago whereas chatting with Fox Sports activities Australia. “It wasn’t a nasty efficiency, it was probably the most regular efficiency from him ever”.
With Chimaev hovering within the background and Adesanya set to face no.5-ranked contender Nassourdine Imavov in February, the highest of the middleweight division lastly seems aggressive after a few years of utter dominance by “The Final Stylebender”.
Islam Makhachev vs. Armen Tsarukyan for UFC World Title at Light-weight
One other rematch will determine who emerges from the primary pay-per-view occasion of 2025 carrying the light-weight title round their waste. Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) will sq. off in opposition to Armen Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) for the second time at UFC 311 on January 18th.
The pair first met in Tsarukyan’s UFC debut manner again in April 2019, lengthy earlier than Makhachev turned the champion at 155 lbs. Makhachev emerged victorious in a bout that Tsarukyan took on very quick discover, and the challenger has been desirous to level out how effectively he carried out throughout these fifteen minutes.
“He’s not that good like individuals suppose,” Tsarukyan mentioned whereas chatting with ESPN not too long ago. “Folks suppose he’s unbeatable, like loopy wrestling, however like I took him down after I was 22 years previous.”
The Armenian has gained 9 of his ten fights contained in the Octagon since that first assembly and believes he possesses the required abilities to topple Makhachev within the new 12 months.
“To begin with, I understand how to wrestle very effectively,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “Second, I’m younger and hungry. I’ve by no means had the belt, so it drives me very effectively. I’ve loads of vitality for the trainings and I consider I’m the man who’s going to beat him. However crucial factor is that I’m very hungry. I would like that belt a lot. It’s a dream. After I obtained within the UFC, I used to be interested by that. I’ve been interested by it for 5 years”.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov for UFC World Title at Bantamweight
New bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) will try to make the primary protection of his newly acquired UFC world title when he faces Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) within the co-main occasion at UFC 311.
Dvalishvili gained the title when he dominated Sean O’Malley over 5 rounds on the UFC’s historic occasion on the Sphere earlier this 12 months and appeared to be doing every part he may to speak down Nurmagomedov’s claims to get the subsequent shot on the new champion.
After the matchup was lastly introduced, “The Machine” made the case that Nurmagomedov has been “gifted” the title shot with out having picked up the requisite wins within the division to earn the chance…one thing the challenger’s cousin (former UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov) disputes.
“I believe when he [Merab] starting his profession, he was performing good. When he turned champion, he can’t cope with this. As a result of life altering,” Khabib mentioned at a current press convention (through Purple Nook MMA). “Earlier than champion and after champion there may be two life. It’s important to cope with this. About Umar [getting] reward – I believe Umar deserve. I don’t know why Merab nervous… Umar right here not as a result of he’s my cousin. He’s right here as a result of he’s 18-0 and 6-0 within the UFC. Umar wanna create his legacy. January 18, he’ll present why Merab nervous.”
